STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-FOURTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INTERIM
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES FINANCE DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Jean Wagenius, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 10:11 A.M. on October 3, 2007, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
CLARK, Karen
DILL, David
DOTY, Al
GARDNER, Paul
GUNTHER, Bob
HACKBARTH, Tom
HANSEN, Rick
HOPPE, Joe
KNUTH, Kate
MOE, Frank
OZMENT, Dennis
SCALZE, Bev
TINGELSTAD, Kathy
WAGENIUS, Jean (Chair)
Members excused:
EKEN, Kent
MCNAMARA, Denny
PETERSON, Aaron
Members absent:
ANZELC, Tom
MAGNUS, Doug
Representative Hansen announced the Wetlands, Watersheds, and Buffer Protection subcommittee will hold a hearing in southeast Minnesota on November 6.
Representative Wagenius announced the creation of a subcommittee on Drinking Water Source Protection to be chaired by Representative Gardner.
A quorum was present at 10:14.
Assistant Commissioner Bob Meier of the Department of Natural Resources presented an overview of DNR progress on newly mandated reports.
Lieutenant Julie Olson, DNR Wetlands Enforcement Officer, testified on the wetland enforcement flight plan.
Lieutenant Martin Book, DNR Conservation Officer, testified in response to a question from Representative Clark.
Colonel Mike Hamm, DNR Chief Conservation Officer, testified in response to a question from Representative Hansen.
Dave Weirens, Land and Water Section Manager with the Board of Soil and Water Resources, testified on the wetland enforcement work plan and answered questions from the committee.
Ed Boggess, Deputy Director of DNR's Fish and Wildlife Division, provided an update on the progress of the aquaculture legislative report.
Dr. Kyle Zimmer, University of St. Thomas, testified on fish and wetlands.
The committee recessed at 12:32.
The committee reconvened at 1:27.
Doug Norris, Wetlands Program Coordinator with DNR's Fish and Wildlife Division, testified on wetland ecology and trophic states.
Lee Pfannmuller, Director of DNR's Ecological Services Division, updated the committee on the progress of a number of items, including native prairie protection and restoration, aquatic plant management rule changes, Clean Water Legacy, and invasive species.
Ed Boggess testified on federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands.
Roy Johannes with the DNR Fisheries Division testified on aquaculture and federal duck stamp easements.
Lyn Bergquist, DNR Fisheries GIS Coordinator, explained how she determined the overlap between aquaculture licensed ponds and federal duck stamp easement lands.
Ray Norrgard, Wetland Wildlife Program Consultant with the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife, testified on prairie wetland grassland complexes and the Working Lands Initiative.
The committee adjourned at 3:45 pm.
REP. JEAN WAGENIUS, CHAIR
Melissa Hysing, Committee Legislative Assistant